A seven-member parliamentary delegation is on a week-long research trip to Kigali on the activities of the Rwandan one-stop shop model adopted by the nation through the planned Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA).
The delegation, consisting of members of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Committee on Industry and Commerce, is headed by Cde Kindness Paradza, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
On April 5 this year, the government gazetted the ZIDA Bill with the intention of paving the way for an investor-friendly environment to be created as well as promoting efficiency in the investor licensing regime in Zimbabwe.
The Bill is a component of the reforms led by the administration of President Mnangagwa to promote business-friendliness as well as to attract the much-needed foreign direct investment into the nation.
Last night, Cde Paradza informed reporters in Kigali that his team, including Hon Joshua Sacco, Chairman of the Committee on Industry and Commerce, had a comprehensive program that included consultations with Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Sezibera Richard, Parliament’s Speaker, Retired Honorable Mukabilisa Donatille, and meetings with senior authorities in the Parliament.
Further conversations will take place with Ministry of Trade and Industry representatives, as well as exchanging notes with fellow MPs who are members of the Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, Economy and Trade Committee.
The delegation from Zimbabwe will also visit the Special Economic Zones midweek and travel to Bukavu to appreciate the notion of one-stop border post between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
ZIDA is a replica of the Rwandan model and will substitute and strengthen the present activities of the Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA), the Zimbabwe Special Economic Zones (Zimseza) and the Ministry of Finance Joint Ventures Unit.
Harare has formally opened a new full-fledged embassy in Kigali under Professor Charity Manyeruke as the new ambassador since the introduction of the new dispensation in November 2017.
Cde Paradza said his delegation will return home on Friday and use the expertise of Rwanda to drive the parliamentary ZIDA agenda.
